Insurance

Shutting Down Insurers’ Abuses

October 2, 2013 · Carmen Balber

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/CWD-DC-Flag.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 149px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; float: right;" />I went to Washington DC right after the 2008 election to open up Consumer Watchdog's office on Capitol Hill and make sure health reform worked for consumers.

Google Chiefs Travel On YOUR Tax Dollars After NASA Sell Them Cut Price Fuel For Their Private Jets

September 25, 2013 · Mark Reback

<div> <ul> <li> Investigation finds firm owned by Google execs keeps jets at NASA facility</li> <li> There it buys fuel at prices from a half to nearly a fifth of market rate</li> <li> Planes used to jet off to exotic locations across the planet</li> <li>

Judge Green Lights Consumer Lawsuit Against Anthem Blue Cross

August 22, 2013 · Mark Reback

<div class="story_body"> California — A California superior court judge has given the green light to a consumer protection <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/firstamendedcomplaintkassouf.pdf">lawsuit</a> against <a href="https://www.anthem.com/health-insurance/home/overview">Anthem Blue Cross</a>. The suit accuses Blue Cross of deceptive and unfair practices. The company tried to bar the claim but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jane Johnson said the case can proceed.

Blue Cross Can’t Shake CLRA Claim In Health Plan Suit

August 9, 2013 · Mark Reback

Law360, Los Angeles (August 09, 2013, 3:46 PM ET) -- A California state judge Friday refused to trim a putative class action accusing Anthem Blue Cross of using “bait and switch” strategies to increase annual deductibles and premiums, ruling that the plaintiffs adequately pled that health plans are services recognized by the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

Consumer Watchdog Argues That WARF Stem Cell Patent Is Invalid Under §101

August 1, 2013 · Mark Reback

Last month, Consumer Watchdog filed its <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/cwdvswarfbrief.pdf" target="_self" rel="noopener">opening brief</a> in an appeal of a Board decision affirming the patentability of U.S. Patent No.

Proposed Ballot Initiative Would Lift Calif.’s Medical Malpractice Cap

July 26, 2013 · Mark Reback

<div class="block__content block--article__content" id="page_0_content_0_BlockContent"> On Thursday, a consumer advocacy group filed a proposed ballot initiative that aims to eliminate a cap on damages under California's medical malpractice law, the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/25/5595771/capitol-alert-ballot-measure-filed.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacramento Bee</a> reports (White, Sacramento Bee, 7/26).

Initiative To Raise California Malpractice Cap Underway

July 15, 2013 · Mark Reback

The consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog and the legislator who initially backed California's 1975 Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA), which <a href="http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/search/malpractice+cap/daterange-all/b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caps non-economic damages</a> awarded in malpractice cases at $250,000, are working together on a ballot initiative to raise the cap to $1.1 million to adjust for inflation.

HealthNet’s “Exchange” Rate Unreasonable

July 1, 2013 · Carmen Balber

<div> <img alt="" src="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/images/healthcaredeals.jpg" style="width: 1px; height: 1px;" />Consumer Watchdog's Public Comment On Health Net's CA "Exchange" Rates

Activists Oppose Relaxation Of DTSC Hazardous-Waste Enforcement Bill

June 27, 2013 · Mark Reback

Environmentalists are objecting to lawmaker plans to significantly weaken a bill requiring the toxics department to beef up enforcement efforts at hazardous-waste facilities in poor, minority communities, with some sources alleging that department officials are lobbying behind the scenes to scale back the bill. But the department claims it has not taken a position on the bill and has only informed lawmakers that the measure would require new money and staff at the agency.

Big Win and Winners

June 21, 2013 · Jamie Court

<a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/tags/rfj2013"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2664" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/images_2013ragehonoreesquare.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 211px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="250" height="250" /></a>California is the only state in America where drivers spent less per year on auto insurance in 2010 than they did in 1989. That startling fact comes from the insurance industry’s own data just analyzed by the Consumer Federation of America.

Class Action Lawsuit Barring “Bait and Switch” Health Plan Deductibles Advances

June 20, 2013 · Jerry Flanagan

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2676" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/images_doublecross-thumb.gif" style="width: 150px; height: 96px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="150" height="96" /> According To Blue Cross, “Any Term or Benefit” of Health Coverage Could Change Each Month

Blue Shield May Take L.A. Contract from Anthem Blue Cross

June 18, 2013 · Mark Reback

The health insurer wins a benefits panel's support. If finalized, about 27,000 L.A. workers and their families with Anthem coverage would face a change. Blue Shield of California, already facing a Los Angeles ethics complaint over potential conflicts of interest, is poised to take a lucrative health insurance contract for city workers away from rival Anthem Blue Cross.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers